Great Yeldham 'blood runner' appeals for more volunteers to keep vital charity going

A volunteer ‘blood runner’ has spoken of the importance of supporting volunteers, after receiving sponsorship to aid his effort to deliver vital blood stocks.

Great Yeldham resident Nick Franklin, a volunteer for the charity Essex Blood Runners, has been given financial support by civil engineering supply specialist Scott Parnell, to cover the running costs of his deliveries.

Mr Franklin, who works for Stanton Bonna as an area sales manager, helps to transport urgent blood supplies to hospitals in Essex in his spare time, serving at least two 12-hour night shifts per month.

Prior to this sponsorship, he had previously paid for the cost of fuel and maintenance entirely at his own expense, which can cost him as much as £1,000 each year.

“I decided to start volunteering with Essex Blood Runners a few years ago, simply because I wanted to do something that would make a difference to my local community,” said Mr Franklin.

“The charity is completely run by volunteers and receives no funding.

“It’s only through the generosity of the volunteers themselves, along with donations from companies, like Scott Parnell, that it can continue to operate.

“The volunteers are integral to the service, so we are always in need of others who are willing to come forward to keep this much needed service going.”

In addition to blood stocks, Essex Blood Runners also delivers platelets, plasma and red cells to hospital departments, as well as supplying neonatal milk for infants to the Herts Milk Bank.

It has been estimated that the charity helps the NHS in the county save approximately £100,000 a year.